Wrench



No. e|5,s43 Patented Dec. 6,1898. J. r.- STRAHLE.

W R E N C H (Application filed Feb. 1 1 1 898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

JACOB F. STRAHLE, OF BURR, NEBRASKA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,643, dated December8 Application filed February 11, 1898. Serial No. 669,899. (No model.)

To (0Z6 1071,0111, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB F. STRAHLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burr, in the county of Otoe and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vrenches; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in wrenches, and pertains moreparticularly to what is known as alligator-wrenches, and the object ofthe invention is to provide means whereby the jaws of the wrench can bereadily adjusted to grip different-sized nuts or pipe.

The invention consists in the parts shown in the drawings, described inthe specification, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench constructedand arranged in accordance with my invention, the jaws being shown asclosed in position. Fig. 2 is a like view, the jaws being open. Fig. 3is a perspective view of one of the jaws.

In carrying out my invention I employ a handle 1, which comprises theusual handgrip portion 2 and a forwardlyextending curved portion 3, towhich a jaw 4- is pivotally secured by means of a pivot-pin 5. Pivotally secured to the jaw 4, by means of a pivot-pin 6, is a jaw 7,which is similar in form upon its outer end to the jaw 4, the rear endof the jaw 7 being curved inward, as at 8, and reduced in width at itsextreme inner end, as at 9, to extend within the recess in the forwardend of the handle, which is bifurcated, as shown, said bifurcationextending back and being bounded by a wall. (Shown by the dotted line atas.) The sides of the handle formed by bifurcation of the forward endthereof are provided with simi lar curved slots 10,'through which andthrough the reduced end 9 of the jaw 7 passes a pin 11, whereby as thehandle is moved the relation of the pivot-pin 5 and pin 11 are changed,being forced apart or brought together, and consequently the jaws areeither closed or open, as shown. It will be readily seen that the angleof the slots 10 with reference to the pin 5 determines the degree ofmovement of the handle to effect the degree of opening of the jaws withreference to each other.

The jaw 7 is formed with a series of teeth 12 upon the outer edgethereof at a point coincident with the curved portion 8, formingrecesses 13, into which the forward end of pawl 14 is designed to benormally projected by means of a leaf-spring 15, secured to the rear end16 of the pawl and bearing against the body of the handle at 17.Consequently the jaws may be primarily opened to any desired degree inorder to adapt them to any particular size of nut or pipe upon whichthey are to operate and to be locked into such adj ustment by the pawl.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a wrench which is readilyadjusted to engage with nuts or pipes of different sizes, it only beingnecessary for the operator to raise the pawl 14 by the depression of therear end 10 thereof and then opening the jaws to the desired degree,when they can be locked in such position, and which is simple ofconstruction and of great strength.

What I claim is A wrenchcomprising a handle, a jaw pivotally securedthereto, a jaw pivotally secured to said jaw, a slot in the handle, anda pin passing through the rear end of the second-mentioned jaw andextending into the slot, teeth upon the outer edge of thesecondmentioned jaw and a pawl pivotally secured to the handle andnormally engaging with the teeth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB F. STRAHLE.

Witnesses: g

A. P. YOUNG, W. B. WARD.

